Have you ever started a project with the best of intentions but everything seems to be working against you? Discouragement creeps up on you without you even recognizing it, and what seemed like a fantastic plan has been pushed to the back burner. Perhaps the discouragement came in the shape of a loved one’s criticism, decreasing excitement from coworkers, or last-minute crises that took up too much time. Whatever the reason for your discouragement, it is present, and the formerly fantastic endeavor is no longer attracting your interest.
In the Old Testament, there is a narrative of a group of individuals who attempted to reconstruct the Temple after it was destroyed but were unsuccessful (book of Haggai). Several government officials went out of their way to sabotage the rebuilding process and slow down the employees’ efforts. As a result, the employees were preoccupied with building their own homes, producing crops, and attending to their daily chores. Ironically, the more distracted they grew, the less productive they became and, as a result, the less happy they became. The following stages explain God’s remedy to the situation.
Be brave
Stay firm in your convictions, even if people try to get in the way of what God has placed in your heart. First, be sure your conviction comes from God, but if you have it, rest in it, and don’t let people take your delight.
Start Working
Reorganize your life and place the most important items at the top of your priority list. For example, if God comes first, how much of your daily time do you devote to Him? How much of your time do you devote to your family if they come second? Work on your priorities in the order that you have them, then complete the extras if time allows.
God is on your side
God is there even when things do not go as planned or appear to be hopeless. He does not implant thoughts in our minds without equipping us to carry them out. How do you tell whether an idea is divine? Try it out. It will be in accordance with His Word and the counsel of godly people.
God is faithful to His promises
Take a time to consider how God has honored His promises to you or others in the past. Be grateful for what He has already accomplished and be patient while you await His timing in the future.
Don’t be scared
Fear is one of our biggest foes, capable of paralyzing even the most stalwart Christians. We are not called to be fearful people, but rather strong ones. Many Christians have done great things for God; look to their lives for inspiration and keep going forward.
Final thought
Discouragement may enter into our lives without our realizing it, preventing us from taking the steps we know are necessary. Once you’ve identified the source of your discouragement, the techniques above can help you overcome it and get back to the task you’ve put off. The joy of finishing the job despite the setbacks will be a wonderful occasion for you to remember one day.
